Carne Asada Fries are a San Diego classic and a delightful way to serve grilled carne asada. Crispy fries topped with cheese, refried beans, carne asada, pico de gallo, and guacamole–the finest loaded fries dish!
Carne asada fries are ideal for game days, barbecues, or even a quick weekday meal. They’re tasty and packed with flavor, making them ideal for fulfilling your Mexican cuisine cravings!
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The Best Carne Asada Fries
Growing up in San Diego, carne asada fries were a mainstay in my diet. They’re one of my favorite things to get at my neighborhood taco business!
There’s something so delicious about crispy fries topped with melty cheese, grilled meat, and a variety of sauces and salsas.
Now that I’ve posted my original carne asada recipe, I was eager to share my carne asada fries recipe as well! This is an excellent choice for feeding a large group on game day or for a fast meal.
Get a taste of traditional San Diego taco shop cuisine right in your own kitchen!
What is Carne Asada?
Carne asada is meat that has been marinated and cooked. Carne asada literally translates to “grilled meat”–so easy!
The most commonly used meat for carne asada is skirt steak or flank steak. Traditional carne asada marinades contain a lot of garlic, onion, spices, and fresh citrus taste, which helps tenderize the beef.
Carne asada fries provide grilled carne asada over crispy fries topped with refried beans, cheese, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
How to Make Carne Asada Fries
Carne asada fries are just a combination between loaded cheese fries and nachos. We’ve made things easier by utilizing store-bought frozen fries that can be baked or air-fried till crispy!
TOOLS NEEDED
INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Carne asadas. This dish may be made with either carne asada or pollo asado.
- French fries. Use your fave here!
- Cheese. For taste and meltiness, I prefer to combine cheddar and monterey jack cheeses.
- Refried beans. I prefer to use homemade refried beans in this recipe, but store-bought can be used.
- Pico de Gallo. The fresh tomato salsa provides both freshness and a dash of heat!
- Sour cream. I like to add a few dollops of sour cream on top for a chilly contrast.
- Guacamole. I always prepare my 5-ingredient guacamole for this dish, but you can also use fresh store-bought.
- cotija cheese. A sprinkle of cotija cheese on top provides salt and taste.
THE PROCESS
- Prepare the carne asada. Marinate the steak for at least one hour and up to eight hours. Grill or cook in a cast-iron pan until browned and medium. Allow the meat to rest before dicing it.
- Cook the fries. For convenience, we are utilizing store-bought french fries. Cook them according to the package instructions in your oven or air fryer (my preferred technique!). Once the fries are cooked and crispy, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Top the fries with beans and cheese. Drizzle the warmed refried beans over the fries, then top with cheese. Place the fries in the oven for 4-5 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Add more toppings. Once the fries are finished baking, top with chopped carne asada, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, cilantro, and cotija cheese. You may serve the fries family style, right on the baking pan!
Making the Best Carne Asada
While you can buy pre-marinated carne asada at the shop, creating your own at home is quite simple!
Carne asada fries are delicious because they are juicy, savory, and real. To create superb carne asada, marinate flank steak in a combination of olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and a few other spices for 2 hours.
Then, just heat up the grill and cook the carne asada until it’s lightly browned and medium on the inside. You may alternatively cook the carne asada in a cast-iron pan. Then, just let the steak rest before dicing! Leftover carne asada is ideal for tacos, breakfast tacos, tortas, and other dishes.
Storage Instructions
Once constructed, carne asada fries do not always keep or reheat well.
If you’re making a large amount, I recommend keeping the ingredients separate and assembling individual carne asada fries on each person’s plate. This also allows for easy modification!
Keep the components separate in sealed containers in the refrigerator. Rewarm the fries in the oven or air fryer, then reheat the carne asada in a skillet, before assembling leftovers to have carne asada fries again!
More Recipes You Might Like
- Baked Ratatouille with Cheese
- The Best Swedish Meatballs
- Skillet Cajun Spiced Fish with Tomatoes
- Butternut Squash Lasagna
Recipe Card
Carne Asada Fries
Ingredients
- 1 lb carne asada
- 1 – 32 oz bag frozen french fries
- 1 1/2 cups refried beans warmed
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pico de gallo
- 3/4 cup guacamole
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the carne asada. Marinate the steak for at least one hour and up to eight hours. Grill or cook in a cast-iron pan until browned and medium. Allow the meat to rest before dicing it.
- Cook the fries. For convenience, we are utilizing store-bought french fries. Cook them according to the package instructions in your oven or air fryer (my preferred technique!). Once the fries are cooked and crispy, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Top the fries with beans and cheese. Drizzle the warmed refried beans over the fries, then top with cheese. Place the fries in the oven for 4-5 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Add more toppings. Once the fries are finished baking, top with chopped carne asada, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, cilantro, and cotija cheese. You may serve the fries family style, right on the baking pan!